I found two really cool tech tools and I could not just choose one to report back on. One of the tools is called Tux Paint. Tux Paint is computer-drawing software for children and could be used in the classroom. This is a really neat program that I thought could have multiple uses in the classroom. In relation the all children having different learning styles, I thought this program is a good way to incorporate visual learning and technology in the classroom. However, the one problem that I found with using this tool is that when you save the picture you created, it is hard to find. It is easy however, to print your creating, but emailing it to someone seems tricky. This program is neat though because it is similar to Kid Pix (a program I used to use when I was young), but has more advanced features. You can blur the picture, add cartoon, add animation, lots of colors, stamps, dialog, fuzz, and much more. This is a really fun program to play with and would be a neat way to introduce children to a new unit because the children would have a blast coloring and exploring their creativity.
The other tech tool that I think is really neat is called Story Jumper. This is a website (http://www.storyjumper.com/) that allows anyone to create their own storybook. I remember for one of my literature classes, we all had to create our own children’s book. I made my book on shutterfly because I was unaware of other ways to get a bound hard covered book that included pictures. I was able to draw and make pictures and then scan them in on the computer and place the picture in the picture section of the book. However, this website would be most useful with second or third graders. What is really cool about this site is that I was recommending the commoncraft videos to one of my friends that is a fourth grade teacher and she replied by showing me this website. This is a website developed for the use of teachers in order to make writing and reading interesting and fun. This is a great way to incorporate technology while sticking with the fundamental skills of writing and creating art.
I could not find the picture anywhere other than in the program either.. I wanted to upload it onto my blog, but it wouldn't work! were you able to end up e-mailing it? if so, where did you find it?
ReplyDeleteI'm gonna have to check out story jumper! Kids would LOVE to have a REAL book that they made with their own drawings :) Very cool!
ReplyDeleteStory Jumper sounds really cool! I had no idea there was technology out there like that. It sounds like it would be a really fun project to do with students. Have them write their own story and draw the pictures then actually get to see it as a real book.
ReplyDeleteTux Paint reminded me of good ol' Kid Pix too! I was bummed that I couldn't find a way to get my pictures off Tux Paint though, if you find out how let me know! I'm definitely going to try out Story Jumper now! I remember having to make a story book in second grade and I loved it! This would be a great way to integrate technology into the curriculum and it would be very rewarding for the kids.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, I have hear about Story Jumper and I think it is very interesting. I also was in Hilary's literature class and write my story book about a Hmong Cinderella story.
ReplyDeleteI had thought of trying out Tux paint, but didn't want to download it. It seems like I would be frustrated with the difficulty in finding the picture after creating it. My friend's daughter (age 10) used the Kid Pix program at school and wanted to come home to show my friend how neat it was. She didn't realize it was a program on the school computer, so thought she could access it directly from the Internet. She typed in a search for Kid Pics instead of Kid Pix and ended up bringing up some horrible images. Fortunately, she was so disgusted by what popped up on her screen that she went and told her mom; other kids might have just gone looking out of curiosity. The Internet can be great fun or very scary! (I once was looking for a particular recipe that used non-dairy whipped topping and typed in "cool whip." Bad move...)
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